Justification:
The Orangeback Angelfish, Centropyge acanthops, has been assessed as Least Concern. Despite this species' popularity within the aquarium trade, it is only harvested in small areas of its range. It is likely that it is undergoing localized declines due to habitat degradation. Monitoring of the population numbers of this species is needed to ensure threats do not become more widespread and therefore result in significant population declines.

This species is distributed from Oman and Somalia south to East London (South Africa), and east to Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius, Réunion and the Mascarene Islands (R. Fricke pers. comm. 2008). It has also been recorded from the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago. It has been recorded from 6-70 m in depth.

Animals have been recorded in areas adjacent to coral reefs, often hiding between broken coral. This species usually occurs in groups of about ten individuals. Allen et al. (1998) comments that this fish usually occurs in areas of coral and rubble with thick algae growth. It feeds on invertebrates and algae.

It is unlikely that any major threat is impacting this species, however localized habitat degradation may be occurring within its range. Major coral bleaching similar to that of 1998 and a coastal population of over 20 million people are the two primary threats to East African reefs (Obura et al. 2004). The predictions for the status of East African reefs over the next eight years is poor, with a predicted coastal population of 39 million people and the probability that coral bleaching events of a similar magnitude to the 1998 event will be repeated. A population decline of 25% in association with general habitat degradation following a 1998 coral bleaching event in the Seychelles Islands was reported by Spalding and Jarvis (2002). However this species is found on damaged coral reefs so are seemingly resilient to moderate habitat degradation.

There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place. However, the distribution of this species may fall within a number of marine protected areas. Monitoring of the population numbers of this species is needed.

Robins, C.R., Bailey, R.M., Bond, C.E., Brooker, J.R., Lachner, E.A., Lea, R.N. and Scott, W.B. 1991. World fishes important to North Americans. Exclusive of species from the continental waters of the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society Special Publication.